[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 11 December 2022].
rue des mineurs
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 26 October 2022].
pink petunias
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 28 January 2022].
From Wikipedia: The Maya and Inca believed that the scent of petunias had the power to ward off underworld monsters and spirits. Their flower-buds were bunched together for magical drinks. According to New Age folklore, Petunias will only thrive where there is "positive energy" and will not grow in places where there is "negativity".
When given as a gift, Petunias have (in the language of flowers) two mutually exclusive meanings, symbolising on the one hand being comfortable with someone, and on the other anger and resentment.
A somewhat clichéd image, the interpretation of petunias in the language of flowers feels appropriate right now.
It's a tribute to how comfortable I felt with my friend Anthony at all times. And the anger and resentment I feel in waves (mingled with melancholy and intense, overwhelming sadness) for the fact that his life was cut short.
And so many of the comments and posts I've seen about him since he passed highlight his gentle nature, positivity and enthusiasm.
the gardener
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 2 December 2021].
It's that time again.
I'm posting the first one slightly later than planned but aiming to share new images from the season's grievings series every couple of days between now and Christmas and make them public approximately two days later.
I hope you enjoy!
006 avocado plant
Day six of The 100 Day Project for 2021.
Dad and I nattered on Skype in the wee hours of this morning for about 3.5 hours.
At around 5:45, I had my first "proper" meal of the day for Thursday and Friday.
Is Wensleydale with cranberries and water crackers a "proper" meal? I say "yes". Damn the rest of you...
And soon after, I settled into watching episode two of season one of Vikings as a way of "winding down" from the day.
I've previously watched season two of Vikings but don't remember if I watched some or all of the subsequent series. Either way, being a completist, I have to return to the first season before watching more.
Having not turned in until about 7:40, it was late afternoon by the time I had another go at sketching.
I'd argue today's sketch is definitely not 100% "correct" and not even vaguely photo realistic. But it is a more acceptable "artist's impression" of the original photograph I worked from.
Though you couldn't tell from the drawing, I "cheated" on the outer edge of the pot. I roughly traced the base of my nerve plant's "catcher" pot. The reason that's not evident is my very rough freehand re-tracing of the circle.
But everything else was freehand, for better or worse.
The primary part of the drawing was done with my ZSL pencil. The soil in the pot and the shading were done with my desperately-in-need-of-sharpening 6B pencil.
The proportions are definitely not perfect. The shading needs work (I still need to buy a sharpener and a wide range of pencils).
And, clearly, I can't draw a horizontal line horizontally.
Colour would have helped with the differentiation between soil and leaves and seed and pot.
While it wasn't quite as "simple and organic" as I was planning to draw today - and it was a 25-minute, not a 10-minute sketch - it was at least somewhat satisfying to render.